262 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



or rubbish : and Colonel Irby states that he found about a pound of tow in one nest, and the sleeve of 

 an old coat ; while another observer says that on a foundation of branches Pharaoh's Hen heaps rags, 

 patches, old slippers, and whole basketfuls of camels' hair and wool for the comfort of its offspring. 

 The Egyptians frequently represented this species on their monuments, but do not appear to have 

 attached any particular significance to it. 



In India the place of the present species is taken by the Indian Scavenger Vulture (Neophron 

 ginginianus), and in Africa the Pileated Vulture (A r . pileatus), an entirely brown bird, occurs nearly 

 all over the continent. 



THE SECOND SUB-FAMILY OF THE VULTURID^E. THE AMERICAN VULTDRES (Sarcorhamphinee). 



THE CONDOR (Sarcorhamphm* gryphm f). 



As before mentioned, all the American Vultures can be readily distinguished by the perforation of 

 their nostrils. The Condor is a very unmistakable species, being the largest of all the Vultures, and 

 the male has a large comb on the head which is not developed in the female. The hind toe also is 



* crap? , flesh ; pan </><, a bill ; so called on account of the fleshy wattles on the base of the bill, 

 f Gryphus, a mythological name, a Griffon. 



